Dellin Betances happy to have Aroldis Chapman back

While the signing of Aroldis Chapman means Dellin Betances will go back to being the set-up man after a two-month stint as closer, the three-time All Star is happy to have his good friend back.

“Obviously I’ve set up throughout my career, so I’m comfortable doing that,” Betances told the NY Daily News. “My mentality is, whatever I can do to help the team win, that’s what I want. I would have been fine closing, but I understand that adding a guy like Chapman makes the team a lot better. I’m good friends with him and we can help each other out.”

Betances has a 1.93 ERA across 217 outings the last three seasons, and has racked up 392 K’s in 247 innings. Despite being named to the All Star game each of the last three years, the big man is more concerned about reaching the Fall Classic than he is with his role with the team. Having watched what Chapman and Andrew Miller did to help their teams get to the World Series last season makes him want it that much more.

“I’ve been here three years and we haven’t really done much,” Betances said. “We’ve played good baseball, but I want to win. Seeing those guys in the World Series this year, that’s what I want to do. Whatever it takes to get there, I’ll do the best I can.”

As for the role he sees for himself moving forward, whatever helps the team.

“It’s hard to do that over the course of a season,” Betances said of Miller’s October artistry. “What Andrew did was phenomenal. I enjoyed watching it as much as anybody. I got to see him dominate with us for a year-and-a-half; not as many innings as he did in the playoffs, but he dominated the whole time he was here. As far as me doing that, I feel like I’ve been used in that situation before and as long as I feel good, I’ll do whatever it takes to help the team win.”

He also spoke about the departure of catcher Brian McCann and how it hit him both on and off the field.

“That was tough. Mac is a guy that since I got here in 2014, he’s been my catcher the whole time. I love him as a friend and as a teammate; he’s one of the best teammates I’ve ever had. He keeps you loose and he’s such a competitor, he helped me become the pitcher I am now.”

He also had a chance to meet the newest member of the Yankees when he bumped into Matt Holliday at the Stadium.

“He seems like a great dude,” Betances said. “I’ve heard so many good things, how good a leader he is, and I think we need that. We’ve lost so many veteran hitters, so adding a guy of his character helps, and he’s a great hitter.”